An improvement in performance of hybrid solar system with use of liquid metal alloy GaInSn as a coolant has been demonstrated in this study. The performance of hybrid system using GaInSn, water, and air as coolants under different operating conditions such as ambient temperature, different inlet velocities of fluid, solar irradiations is analyzed using simulation software ANSYS and the results obtained are validated using experiments. The results obtained from simulations and experiments are used for determining important performance criteria such as electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency, and exergy efficiency. The exergy, thermal, and electrical efficiencies were found to be at least 11%, 12%, and 12% higher for hybrid system using GaInSn as a coolant when compared to hybrid systems using air and water as coolants, respectively.

Issue Section:
Technical Brief
Keywords:
Cooling, Efficiency, Energy, Heat transfer
Topics:
Alloys, Coolants, Exergy, Heat transfer, Liquid metals, Solar energy, Temperature, Water, Fluids

References

1.
Michael
,
J. J.
,
Selvarasan
,
I.
, and
Loganathan
,
S.
,
2015
, “
Simulation of the Temperature Distribution Inside a Solar Photovoltaic Thermal Collector
,”
Third Southern African Solar Energy Conference
, South Africa, May 11–13, pp.
507
–
512
.
2.
Chaniotakis
,
E.
,
2001
, “
Modelling and Analysis of Water Cooled Photovoltaics
,”
Master's thesis
, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
3.
Rawat
,
P.
, and
Kumar
,
P.
,
2015
, “
Performance Evaluation of Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) System
,”
Int. J. Sci. Res.
,
4
(
8
), pp.
1466
–
1471
.
4.
Boulfaf
,
N.
,
Chaoufi
,
J.
,
Ghafiri
,
A.
, and
Abdallah
,
E.
,
2016
, “
Thermal Study of Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal (PV-T) Solar Air Collector Using Finite Element Method
,”
Int. J. Renewable Energy Res.
,
6
(
1
), pp.
171
–
182
.
5.
Khelifa
,
A.
,
Touafek
,
K.
,
Ben Moussa
,
H.
,
Tabet
,
I.
,
Bencheikh Elhocine
,
H.
, and
Haloui
,
H.
,
2015
, “
Analysis of a Hybrid Solar Collector Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT)
,”
Energy Procedia
,
74
, pp.
835
–
843
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Matuska
,
T.
,
2014
, “
Performance and Economic Analysis of Hybrid PVT Collectors in Solar DHW System
,”
Energy Procedia
,
48
, pp.
150
–
156
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
He
,
W.
,
Chow
,
T.-T.
,
Ji
,
J.
,
Lu
,
J.
,
Pei
,
G.
, and
Chan
,
L.-S.
,
2006
, “
Hybrid Photovoltaic and Thermal Solar-Collector Designed for Natural Circulation of Water
,”
Appl. Energy
,
83
(
3
), pp.
199
–
210
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Sudhakar
,
K.
, and
Srivastava
,
T.
,
2013
, “
Energy and Exergy Analysis of 36 W Solar Photovoltaic Module
,”
Int. J. Ambient Energy
,
35
(
1
), pp.
51
–
57
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Pauly
,
L.
,
Rekha
,
L.
,
Vazhappilly
,
C. V.
, and
Melvinraj
,
C. R.
,
2016
, “
Numerical Simulation for Solar Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal Air Collector
,”
Procedia Technol.
,
24
, pp.
513
–
522
.
10.
Joshi
,
A. S.
,
Tiwari
,
A.
,
Tiwari
,
G. N.
,
Dincer
,
I.
, and
Reddy
,
B. V.
,
2009
, “
Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/T) (Glass-to-Glass) System
,”
Int. J. Therm. Sci.
,
48
(
1
), pp.
154
–
164
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Khelifa
,
A.
,
Touafek
,
K.
, and
Benmoussa
,
H.
,
2013
, “
Energetic Study of Hybrid Solar PV/T Collectors
,”
Rev. Energies Renouvelables
,
16
(4), pp.
619
–
628
.
12.
Negoiaş
,
A. P.
,
Morega
,
A. M.
, and
Morega
,
M.
,
2009
, “
Heat Transfer in Spherical Micro Solar Cell Modules
,”
International Conference on Renewable Energies and Power
, Valencia, Spain, Apr. 15–17, pp.
507
–
511
.
13.
Hering
,
W.
,
Stieglitz
,
R.
, and
Wetzel
,
T.
,
2012
, “
Application of Liquid Metals for Solar Energy Systems
,”
EPJ Web Conf.
,
33
, p. 03003.
14.
Frazer
,
D.
,
Stergar
,
E.
,
Cionea
,
C.
, and
Hosemann
,
P.
,
2014
, “
Liquid Metal as a Heat Transport Fluid for Thermal Solar Power Applications
,”
Energy Procedia
,
49
, pp.
627
–
636
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
15.
Wetzel
,
T.
,
Pacio
,
J.
,
Marocco
,
L.
,
Weisenburger
,
A.
,
Heinzel
,
A.
,
Hering
,
W.
,
Schroer
,
C.
,
Müller
,
G.
,
Konys
,
J.
,
Stieglitz
,
R.
,
Fuchs
,
J.
,
Knebel
,
J.
,
Fazio
,
C.
,
Daubner
,
M.
, and
Fellmoser
,
F.
,
2014
, “
Liquid Metal Technology for Concentrated Solar Power Systems: Contributions by the German Research Program
,”
AIMS Energy
,
2
(
1
), pp.
89
–
98
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
16.
Guha
,
S.
,
van Kessel
,
T. G.
, and
Martin
,
Y. C.
,
2011
, “
Techniques for Cooling Solar Concentrator Collector
,” International Business Machines Corporation, Endicott, NY, U.S. Patent No.
20110168247 A1
.
17.
Chow
,
T. T.
,
2010
, “
A Review on Photovoltaic/Thermal Hybrid Solar Technology
,”
Appl. Energy
,
87
(
2
), pp.
365
–
379
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
18.
Huang
,
C.-Y.
,
Sung
,
H.-C.
, and
Yen
,
K.-L.
,
2013
, “
Experimental Study of Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) Hybrid System
,”
Int. J. Smart Grid Clean Energy
,
2
(
2
), pp.
147
–
151
.
Copyright © 2017 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.